Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-23
Observation-Disclosures.

hat ever fought battle fi.ld themselves At
lines In position where it is necessary to
signal: We must have reinforcement or
re must succumb." Courage will do won
1ers, but the hour will come when tired
arms will droop and wasted bodies will
faint, and the ammunition will give out.
and unless re-enforcements come all the
courage of Thermopylm will not keep back
the rush of the outnumbering enemy.
The prohibition army of America num-
fers 100000 men able to bear arms-bal-
pts. Its battle is against an institution
lAtrenched behind avarice, appetite, and
political ambition. 1t is fight against
odds the most tremendous, and the fight is
growinglong and desperate. To the men
OF America, to the fathers of American bow
hood, tothe sons of American motherhood,
to the lovers of home, of sobriety, of de-
cency, and Of God, we signal to-day these
words: The prohibition army must have
re-enforctments. It has fought long and
hard and honestly. 1t has faced the shot
and shell of three Presidential campaigns
hurled forth from front and rear. It has
stood its gound without whimpering. It
has refused every dicker and deal that the
politicianson this side and on that have
by turns made to it. 1t has not sold itself,
sASu6A AeoSpPOISuuAlloS nave D0cu loRlO0s
Now whit are the men of America going
to do about that army? 1t is the only army
in the natipn that dares confront the saloon
power at the ballot-box, where it must be
confronted if it is ever to be conquered,
We are appealing now to modern drinkers
as we'll as total abstainers, to Republicans
and Democrats-to every man who has
been endowed with ballot through which
to voice lis conscience and his convictions
on public questions. Ask yourself whether
or not the good of the nation demands the
continuance or disarmament of that prohi-
bition army. Ask yourself whether this
deepening and broadening sentiment
against the saloon that is heard rumbling
in all sections Of the land would be intensi-
fed or deadened by the dispersion of the
Prohibition party and the destruction Of
its organization. Ask yourself how much
of legislation could be obtained through
the old parties that would really cripple the
saloons it the standing menace of the new
party were withdrawn Tomorrow. Would
not the very heart be taken out Of this anti
saloon movement in every State if the Pro-
hibitionists were to confess themselves
beaten and baffled and were to retire from
the political field?
Then what are you going to do about it?
The party has but 30O,O votes cut Of
nearly 10000 900. We tell you that it must
have re-enforcements or confess itself baf-
fed and beaten. Three hundred thousand
votes can do nothing in this country against
such q rooted institution as the liquor traf-
&c. We have been fighting for the homes
OF the 100000 voters as much as fol
our own. We have taken obloquy and
ridicule, and in many cases downright
persecution, with patience, believing that
they were born of honest misunderstand-
ing and distrust which time would remove.
We have known our weakness better than
others have known it; but we have trusted
to the courage and patriotism Of American
citizenship to make US strong. We are
trusting to 1t still. But we demand re-en-
forcements. The time is come when we
have right to demand them. We have
done our duty, and now we demand thai
the Christian voters of this nation do theirs
1t is their right as much as it is ours, and
they have no business to shirk it longer
Why, in Heavens name, are they still
waiting? Do they expect either old party
to take up the fight? Neither Of them il
one step nearer to doing so than they were
ten years ago. How much longer are We
asked to bear the burdens of this contest
before hope in these liquor-logged parties
is given up? Are they waiting for clearer
demonstrations that prohibition can bt
made to prohibit? What hope is there o.
clearer demonstrations than Kansas and
Iowa and Atlanta have been furnishing?
We appeal to the manhood of Americs
for re-enforcements in this contest. It il
contest for American ideas and institu'
tions against that horde of evils-the
brothel, political corruption, red-mouthee
anarchy, industrial disorder, and Sabbath
desecration-that are drawing SO much o.
their vitality from the saloon and its politi
cal power. We appeal to the conservative
men of the nation whether conservatism ii
not becoming crime under such con,
ditions obtain to-day. We appeal to thu
conscience of the nation if neutrality i!
not now becoming cowardice.
The Prohibition party must have re-en
forcements. Will it appeal for them il
such fight for such cause in vain?-Th
Tn;ce